Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-02
GEN. II. s. RIPLEY.
A More Extended Account of His
Career and Death.

A More Extended Account of his
| Career and Death.
OF Gen. r. S. Ripley, whose death was
announced in Wednes days issue OF the
| MORNING NEWS, the New York World
says: Gen. r. S Ripley, who commanded
| the Confederate batteries that first opened
fire on Fort Sumter, was stricken with
apoplexy yesterday morning at the New
York Hotel and died at O'CLOCK last
night.
Gen. Ripley, who had been living at the
New York Hotel for some years, came
down 10 the breakfast room yesterday
morning and ate hearty meal. He after
ward arose and approached the table OF
Gen. Newton, Commissioner OF Pubic
Works, who is an old friend
OF his, but Just as he reached Gen.
Newton's table he fell forward on his
face and when picked up was found to be
insensible. DR.. Norris was summoned
and pronounced that the General was
suffering from an attack OF apopleXy and
that his recovery was very doubtful.
Gen. Ripley remained IN a com atose state,
growing perceptibly worse until death
came The stricken man was large and
stout, and was apparently in perfect
health, except for occasional attacks OF
asthma, during which he suffered consid-
eraDy and would walk around the cor
rIdors OF the hotel during all hours OF the
night.
Gen. Ripley some two years ago, in a
very interesting interview, gave his rem
iniscences of the attact on sumter. He
was in immediate command OF the guns
that opened the attack, He had mis-
headquarters at Fort Moultrie, and in the
sands OF Sulivan's Island there were
several quite formidable batteries. A
Capt. James was in command OF Fort
Johnston, on the other side of sumter.
Singularly enough, however, Gen Kip
ley, the Confederate, was native OF
Ohio, while Maj. Anderson, the Federal
commander, WAS from the slave state of
Kentucky. Gen. Ripley had married and
had lived for many years in South Car
DINA.
IL had ordered" said Gen. Ripley,
"some cooked hats for our uniforms, and
on the day before toe attack L met b y
with box in his hand running towards
Fort Moultrie. Where'll L find Gen.
Ripley% he asked me. And what do you
want OF himr said |. WHY said the
breathless youngster, Il heard they were
to start firing on Fort Sumter and 1 must
get this hat to him before they start in.
He thought the attack could not be made
| unless L was In full regalia. AS 1t hap
pened, l was awakened an hour or two
| before the first shot was fired by false
alarm that the signal to begin hostilities
had been Given. and rushed out in my
night-clothes and caught up the
| cCcked-hat on the way. That
was all my uniform-a cooked
hat and a night-gown. The first signal
came several hours afterwa ards and bad
plenty of time to dress. 1t was at 1850 in
| the morning, q rocket from Beauregard's
| headquarters near Charleston. My sigma
to the batteries ON Sullivan's Island was
| three lanterns hoisted on a staff in For
MOultrie. The first shot was from an
S-inch cannon close by my station in the
| fort. 1t struck fairly the masonry of Sum
ter. A moment later and all the batteries
on the island opened, ana at the Instant
we saw fash OF guns on Fort Johnston
The greatest war in history had begun
| Maj. Anderson paid little attention to us
| for the first half-hour. He concentrate C
his fire on Fort Johnston. Ny batteries
set fire to the barracks and 1t was only
when we smoked him out that Anderson
gave in"
Gen. Ripley was also the author of al
interesting letter of date Dec. 20, 1864, Il
Gen. McGrath, OF South Carolina, il
which he offered to surrender his commits
sion in order to accept a command will
the State troops, then being hastily
raised to oppose Sherman's march to tn,
sea. In it Gen. Ripley complained of the
failure of the Confederate government Il
provide any adequate defense for the pro
lection of South Carolina, and proposed
the enlisting of slaves to be used a.
troops. Gen. Ripley's criticism of Mr.
jefferson Davis is quite characteristic
mir. Davis had great ability in placiEl
| rOunR OpRe in SQUARE hOle6.N